Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Six shadows darted between the towering trees of the Eternal Forest, boots tearing through underbrush, hearts pounding in unison. Behind them, the ground trembled with an unnatural rhythm.
Tut-tut. Tut-tut. Tut-tut.
The sound of six tails slapping the earth as one—a rhythm of death.
"Sovereign!" a deep voice barked. "You really got us in deep this time!"
The speaker was Rhett, towering even among Titans, his dark green skin glistening with sweat and blood. He turned his head mid-run, glaring at the pale Titan just ahead of him.
"Why didn't you just listen?!"
The one leading them, a pale white Titan whose golden eyes glowed in the fading light, growled in frustration.
"How is this my fault?! How was I supposed to know this area housed a Chaotic Beast? This was supposed to be a routine hunt!"
Vale, panting hard, bared his teeth. "Routine, my ass. That thing's faster than us—and it hasn't even tried yet."
"We can't outrun it," Daren spat, limping, blood trailing down his leg. "We'll have to fight."
They all slowed. Reluctantly.
"Master Theron!" Sovereign called, desperation in his voice. "Suggestions?"
From the back, the oldest of them—their instructor—spoke. Master Theron's fading brown skin was etched with scars, his ancient eyes steady. He cracked his knuckles once and nodded.
"We stand. We fight. Fall in formation."
The six Titans pivoted, planting their feet.
The Chaotic Beast emerged—a six-tailed fox-like monster, twice the size of a bear. Its silver fur shimmered with volatile light, eyes glowing pure white. A foul golden mist seeped from its body.
"Don't breathe it in!" Theron shouted.
But it was too late. The pheromones clouded their senses. The youngest of them, Axe, charged forward recklessly.
"Axe, no—!"
The beast didn't move. It let him come.
Just as Axe reached striking range, one tail lashed forward. It pierced his chest and lifted him into the air. His body jerked once, then fell limp.
"Damn it!" Rhett roared. "We need to coordinate!"
"Sovereign, left flank!" Theron barked. "Vale, cover him!"
Vale slammed his fists into the earth, sending shards of stone flying to mask Sovereign's movement. Sovereign surged in, fists blazing with Vol, and struck the beast's foreleg. The blow landed—but the monster barely staggered.
Daren leapt onto its back, hammering down on its spine. For a moment, the beast faltered.
"Now! It's stunned!" Daren yelled.
The reprieve was brief. A tail whipped around and crushed into his ribs, hurling him into a tree. The crack of bone echoed through the forest.
Theron's eyes narrowed. His voice dropped.
"They're illusions… the mist—it's warping what we see."
"Then how do we fight it?!" Vale snapped.
"We burn it."
Theron's Vol surged, flames erupting around his body. Not mere elemental fire—his Vol Nodes ignited, one by one, as he sacrificed his life force.
"FOR THE ANCESTOR!" he roared, throwing himself at the beast.
The firestorm exploded, scorching the forest and searing the fox. The mist scattered. Three of its tails burned to ash.
"NOW!" Sovereign shouted.
Rhett charged, seizing one of the beast's fangs. With brute force, he ripped it free. Blood sprayed, the beast shrieked.
"Use this!" Rhett shouted, tossing the tooth to Sovereign. "Its own fang—drive it through!"
"What about you?!" Sovereign cried.
"Doesn't matter! Go!"
Rhett wrestled the beast, his massive frame pierced again and again by whipping tails. He laughed through blood.
Sovereign's chest tightened. He wanted to stop. But he couldn't.
He ran. Not away. Forward.
Leaping high, he drove the jagged fang into the beast's glowing eye, plunging deeper until it struck brain. The fox shrieked, convulsed, and finally collapsed.
Sovereign fell with it, broken and breathless. Tears streaked his face.
One by one, his brothers were gone. Axe. Daren. Vale. Rhett. Theron.
Gone.
Hours later.
A pyre of stone and ash smoldered in the village center. Charred remains rested upon it.
Sovereign stood before the fire, his white hair streaked with blood and soot. He folded his arms, staring into the flames.
"May the Ancestor bless you," he whispered, voice cracking. "Theron. Rhett. Daren. Vale. Axe."
"Thank you… for buying me one more day."
Tut. Tut. Tut.
Heavy steps approached. Sovereign didn't turn. He knew.
"Tell me, Vidal… what happened?"
The name struck him like a blow. Not Sovereign. Not the title. Vidal—the boy who once chased fireflies through the plains.
"It was a Chaotic Beast," Sovereign said. His voice was hollow. "I could do nothing. If it weren't for them… if it weren't for their sacrifice… I'd be dead too."
A heavy hand pressed onto his shoulder. Warm. Steady.
"You did well, son," Kraken said quietly, his voice trembling. "You survived. You honored their memory. You brought their souls home."
He paused, looking into the fire.
"And you killed the beast. That flame will light the path forward."
Sovereign nodded, his jaw tight, eyes burning.
Kraken turned to the gathered Titans. "Give him space."
They left. Silence returned, broken only by the crackle of fire.
Sovereign's fists clenched at his sides.
He had known death before. But this… this changed him.
He had been prey today. But never again.
"If my fists aren't enough," he muttered, "I'll forge a blade that can cut through anything."
"If my body isn't enough, I'll craft armor no beast can pierce."
"And if even that isn't enough…" He gritted his teeth. "…then I'll find another way."
He lifted his gaze skyward.
"Bless their souls, Ancestor. They gave me another chance… and I won't waste it."